The History Boys Tops the 2006 Tony Awards; Jersey Boys Wins Best Musical

The History Boys triumphed at the 60th annual Tony Awards with six awards, including Best Play. The Drowsy Chaperone won more awards than any musical with five, but the top honor of Best Musical went to Jersey Boys. Jersey Boys won a total of four Tonys.

Here are some notes on this year's awards, which were announced on June 11 at Radio City Music Hall :

—The History Boys may or may not hold the record for most Tony Awards ever given to a play with six. According to official Tony Awards information, five plays are tied for winning the most Tony Awards: A Man for All Seasons 1962, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 1963, Child's Play 1971, Amadeus 1981 and The Real Thing 1984. However, when researching the issue, Broadway.com discovered that the original production of Death of a Salesman also received six Tonys they included awards for Best Author and Best Producer, which no longer exist.

—As was the case last year, the musical that received the most Tony Awards did not pick up the statuette for Best Musical. In 2005, The Light in the Piazza picked up six Tonys, but Spamalot which only won three overall received the big award. This year Jersey Boys won Best Musical and three other awards. The Drowsy Chaperone won five overall, one more than the Boys.

—The Color Purple film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and the musical was also nominated for 11. But while the film was completely shut out on Oscar night, the stage version did receive a Tony Award. In an upset over the favored Patti LuPone, Color Purple leading lady LaChanze took home the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Here is a complete list of the winners:

Best MusicalJersey Boys

Best PlayHistory Boys

Best Revival of a MusicalThe Pajama Game

Best Revival of a PlayAwake and Sing!

Best Actress in a Musical
LaChanze, The Color Purple

Best Actor in a Musical
John Lloyd Young, Jersey Boys

Best Actor in a Play
Richard Griffiths, The History Boys

Best Actress in a Play
Cynthia Nixon, Rabbit Hole

Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Christian Hoff, Jersey Boys

Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Beth Leavel, The Drowsy Chaperone

Best Director of a Musical
John Doyle, Sweeney Todd

Best Director of a Play
Nicholas Hytner, The History Boys

Best Original Score
Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, The Drowsy Chaperone

Best Book of a Musical
Bob Martin and Don McKellar, The Drowsy Chaperone

Best Choreography
Kathleen Marshall, The Pajama Game

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Frances de la Tour, The History Boys

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Ian McDiarmid, Faith Healer